Sunday drive: Sacramento River Delta

What you'll see: You get a red-carpet tour of the vast Delta, the boating capital of California. Two old-style ferries, two bridges and two-lane levee roads provide access to the Sacramento River Delta and miles of rivers, sloughs, islands and historic towns. You'll see evidence of its epic past, including the levees built first by Chinese laborers and later by clamshell dredge, which created 55 islands. There are also opportunities to see waterfowl, launch a kayak or other boat, and fish from shore. You can eat lunch in one of the historic towns, like Isleton, or bring a picnic to Brannan Island State Recreation Area. On the ferries that cross Cache Slough and Steamboat Slough, you drive on a flat-bottomed barge, and are pulled by cables or pushed by propellers to the other side. They're free, one of the last great bargains.

Rec options: Brannan Island State Park provides a six-lane ramp for power boats and kayaks, fishing, picnic area and a trail that circles the park for hiking and biking.

Map: California Delta, $8, at californiadelta.org

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Sunday drive: Sacramento River Delta

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Driving time: Less than two hours from Rio Vista to Antioch, including two stops.

How to get there: Take Interstate 80 to Fairfield and Highway 12. Take Highway 12 east 14 miles to Rio Vista and continue to River Road (at the foot of the Rio Vista Bridge). Turn left on River Road and drive along the Sacramento River to the twin-propeller ferry at Cache Slough. Take that ferry ("The Real McCoy") to Ryer Island Road and drive along Steamboat Slough to the cable ferry ("The J-Mack") on the right. Take the ferry across Steamboat Slough and continue to the town of Ryde and Grand Island Road. Turn right and drive along the river, then continue over the bridge to Highway 160. Turn right and drive west through Isleton and continue along the Sacramento River (past Brannan Island State Recreation Area) to Sherman Island and continue over the Antioch Bridge to Antioch and Highway 4. Turn right and take Highway 4 west back to the Bay Area.